Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis. This additional weight in front, causes stress to the joints of the pelvis and low back. As the baby grows in size, the added weight causes the curvature of her lower back to increase, placing extra stress on the fragile facet joints on the back side of the spine. Any pre-existing problems in a woman’s spine tend to be exacerbated as the spine and pelvis become overtaxed, often leading to pain and difficulty performing normal daily activities.

Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during the third trimester when the baby’s body gains the most weight. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment for an easier, safer delivery. It is one safe and effective way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid increase in physical stress by restoring a state of balance. In fact, most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time in labor. Your  chiropractor should be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. They can provide adjustments, as well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice to help address your special needs.

Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:

Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth.

Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women. Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements. Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness.

Wear flat shoes with arch supports. Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments that support the feet become more lax.

When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury during pregnancy.

When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length “body pillows” or “pregnancy wedges” are very popular and can be helpful.

Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours, rather than three large meals per day. This will help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods that you eat.

Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better. Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it’s safe for you and the baby.

Check out what our patients have to say!

After 2 acupuncture treatments, I was virtually pain free.

I had been suffering from lower back pain (sacral pain) for 10 or more years.  Recently, due to pregnancy, the pain has increased so much that I had been unable to sleep.  I began care with adjustments to mobilize my spine and pelvis and physiotherapies to alleviate muscular pain.  This helped reduce my level of pain – but the pain persisted.  Dr. Hoch suggested acupuncture.  After 2 acupuncture treatments, I was virtually pain free.  I just couldn’t believe it.  My husband and I are amazed. ~W.P. 

 

I feel I have a safe support system in Dr. Hoch. I can tell her anything!

I began wondering what was so great about my husband’s chiropractor when he’d come home feeling “awesome” after having seen her. I have always had lower back pain, but it was tolerable. But, since my pregnancy however, the pain has been a lot worse. I had a bit of reluctance. This is my first baby after all, and now I’m thinking about seeing a chiropractor for the first time. I kept thinking, “Don’t they crack you?” My husband assured me that it would be healthy for me and the baby, so I went. Dr. Hoch and her staff are so nice and helpful. I’ve learned a lot by going and now, most of the time, my lower back pain doesn’t bother me. That’s saying something because I’m 29 weeks pregnant and getting bigger with every breath! I love being adjusted and I have so much energy afterwards.        To all you new Moms out there afraid to see a chiropractor don’t be. It feels good, and lets face it, there’s so little about being pregnant that feels good. I feel I have a safe support system in Dr. Hoch. I can tell her anything! I’m thankful to my husband for introducing me and our first born to chiropractic.  ~ A. S.